Intake manifold plenum and runner with condensate drains

Abstract

An intake manifold of an automobile vehicle includes a manifold body connected to a cylinder head. A runner is in communication with the cylinder head. A plenum is in communication with the runner. An inner dividing wall is positioned between and partially separates the runner and the plenum while allowing communication between the plenum and the runner over a dividing wall end of the inner dividing wall. An orifice opening extends through the inner dividing wall providing a drain path from the plenum to the runner. The orifice drains a fluid collecting in the plenum to the runner.

Description

INTRODUCTION[0001]The present disclosure relates to automobile vehicle engine intake manifolds and manifold geometry to promote condensate drain.[0002]A long-runner intake manifold used for in-line engines presents packaging challenges. Runner length may be driven by mitigation of flow reversion from one intake port to an adjacent intake port, or resonant tuning of induction pulses in a given intake runner. Known intake manifold optimization often requires the runners to be rolled or contoured to avoid excessive packaging space. This rolling or contouring often creates cavities in the assembly that may create low elevation points which accumulate moisture or pooled oil from crankcase ventilation systems, particularly following engine shutdown and cooling.[0003]Accumulated moisture negatively impacts subsequent engine startup and performance as the engine heat for vaporizing the moisture is not yet available during startup. A sudden vehicle performance demand event could cause the po...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present disclosure relates to an intake manifold for automobile vehicles. The technical effects of the patent include the positioning of an inner dividing wall between the runner and plenum to allow communication between them while also allowing drainage of fluid through an orifice in the inner dividing wall, the creation of an orifice at a fixed port length from the cylinder head to the manifold connection, the positioning of the orifice at the lowest point of the plenum cavity, the use of a cylinder head intake port with a fixed port length, and the use of a gravity drain path from the orifice to the cylinder head intake port. These technical effects improve the performance and efficiency of the intake manifold and the overall performance of the automobile vehicle.

Problems solved by technology

A long-runner intake manifold used for in-line engines presents packaging challenges.

This rolling or contouring often creates cavities in the assembly that may create low elevation points which accumulate moisture or pooled oil from crankcase ventilation systems, particularly following engine shutdown and cooling.

Accumulated moisture negatively impacts subsequent engine startup and performance as the engine heat for vaporizing the moisture is not yet available during startup.

A sudden vehicle performance demand event could cause the pooled moisture to drain into a single intake port, causing an engine misfire, or potentially damaging the engine from a large change in effective compression volume, known as hydrolock.

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